Local Culture Preservation through Southern Thainess-Based English Lessons

Due to the existing trend of English as a global language, coupled with theemerging trend of regionalisation, individual national culture and identity have attenuated.Concerns regarding the increasing influx of foreign influence through a multitude ofchannels have been exacerbated by the augmented popularity of social media that permeatesmost aspects of people’s lives. As a consequence, particularly in the Thai context, Thaiculture and identity is vulnerable. This presentation represents an attempt to avoid suchimminent subjugation and simultaneously preserve the national identity of Thai learners.Specifically, this study highlights local cultural features pertaining to southern Thailand,manifested through a set of English lessons constructed and subsequently implementedto elementary students in southern Thailand for ten weeks. Based on the tests devised tomeasure the students’ southern Thailand knowledge and associated English vocabulary, thesouthern Thainess-based English lessons exert a significantly positive impact on Englishlanguage learning and cultural awareness. As demonstrated, the local culture-based Englishlessons can be manipulated as a viable and legitimate channel to address learners’ localculture. By extension, English education can be deemed as an ideal and promising avenueto integrate other academic disciplines to empower learners to be equipped for the demandsof the 21st century.